Improvement in folding-chairs



P. W. NOLAN.

Folding-Chairs.

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AM PIIOTO 'LITHOGRAPHIC C0 N Y. USED/7175 s ERG UNITED STATES PATENT;OFFIGE.

PATRICK W. NOLAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TOJ. H. CAMPBELL, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,457, dated August5, 1873; application filed J une 25, 1873. A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK W. NOLAN, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding-Chair, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings makin gpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view oftwo of my improved chairs with single intervening standard. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one ofthe seats detached.

Similar letters of reference denote corre sponding parts in all thefigures. My invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement ofthe folding-arms relative to the folding-seats, whereby a singleintervenin g arm used between two adjoining seats will be thrown up andretained in proper position for use when either of said seats is inposition for occupancy and folded out of. the way only when both seatsare folded or unoccupied. The invention relates, second, to a novelmeans for connecting the folding-seat and pivoted back, whereby apositive movement in either direction is imparted to one by the movementof the other, as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents an upright or standard of anysuitable configuration, but, by preference, cast open, with front andrear upright bars a a connected at the lower ends with a horizontalflange or footpiece, a adapting it to be firmly secured to the floor orplatform, with the forward leg a extending to about the required heightfor the pivot of the seat B and there connected by a transverse web orbar, a with the rear or main upright, which extends upward to form apivotal support at c for the pivoted back 0, at or near which point saidstandard A is provided with a forward projection, A, to which the arm Dis pivoted at d, as shown. The seat B is provided on each side withstraps B armed with pivots I), through which said seat is pivoted in thestandards A at a point indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, and thesestraps, extending in rear of the seat, are curved upward and forward,forming arms eccentric to pivot b, which are provided with the curvedeccentric slots 1). The pivoted backs C are also provided with sidestraps C, which extend below the back and are provided with pins orspurs c, which enter the eccentric slots 1), as shown in Fig. 2, thearrangement being such that when the seat is folded upward to a verticalposition the pins 0 are moved outward, traversing the slot b, and causethe back also to assume a vertical position, and when the seat is throwndown for use a reverse movement of the back takes place, causing it toassume an inclined position for use. The same result is attained bymoving the top of the back forward or back, a positive movement beingimparted, through the pin 0 and slot I), for either'folding the seat orbringing it into position for use.

The relation of thepin and slot are such that when the seat is inposition for use the pin rests in the lower end of the slot and servesto lock the seat and back against further movement; but as a furthersafeguard, and to prevent any straining of the parts, other stops may beused, such as an extension of the back-strap, provided with a pin(indicated by dotted lines at c m, Fig. 1) adapted to rest against theforward leg to, when the seat is in position for use, or a similar stopapplied to the seat-straps and so located as to rest against the web aor a spur formed thereon.

The arms 1) are pivoted loosely in the lugs A, as explained, and, whennot upheld by one or the other of the eccentrics on the adjacent sidesof adjoining seats, drop either from their own gravity or may be forceddownward by springs, if preferred, into a vertical or folded positionout of the way; but when either of two adjoining seats is thrown downinto position for use the cam-projection on the seat strap forces theintervening arm D upward into position for use and retains it until boththe adjoining seats are again folded, when the arm again drops out ofthe way into its folded position.

Where, from any cause, it may be necessary to shorten the cam-straps, orthe relative arrangement of the seat and back is such that the length ofthe cam would be so great as to interfere with the seat, a slide-rod maybe piv oted to the under side of the arm D, provided at its lower endwith spurs or pins, one on each side, so arranged as to be operated byeither arm or cam, when either seat is thrown down into position foruse, and so retained until both are folded, as before.

The folding-chair described is particularly designed for opera-housesand public halls, where economy of space is desirable and the capabilitydescribed of folding seat, back, and arms permits the rows"of chairs tobe placed in closer proximity than would be practicable where less thanall of these parts of the seat folded, and at the same time, by foldinginto the compact form shown and described, afiord ample room for ingressand egress between the rows.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A single pivoted or folding arm between two adjoining seats, incombination with independent cams, or an equivalent device, on theadjacent sides or straps of said seats for operating said arm,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the pivoted back with the pivoted seat, providedwith curved slotted straps or plates, whereby a positive movement isimparted to the back in both directions by the movement of the seat, andalso to the seat by the movement of the back, substantially asdescribed.

3. The slotted cam-shaped straps B, in combination with the pivoted backand arm for operating said back and arm, substantially as described.

PATRICK W. NOLAN.

Witnesses:

J. T. THOMAS,

ALEXR.'MAHON.

